Abstract: | Solving the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations requires special care if the velocity field is not discretely divergence-free. Approximate projection methods and many pressure Poisson equation methods fall into this category. The approximate projection operator does not dampen high frequency modes that represent a local decoupling of the velocity field. For robust behavior, filtering is necessary. This is especially true in two instances that were studied: long-term integrations and large density jumps. Projection-based filters and velocity-based filters are derived and discussed. A cell-centered velocity filter, in conjunction with a vertex-projection filter, was found to be the most effective in the widest range of cases. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |